2 minute read
Cultural Clubs at EJM
- Jade J.
“International understanding through a bilingual education” has always been the mission EJM students adhere to. The presence of cultural diversity on campus constitutes an essential asset to our school life, with students originating from more than 80 different countries. Fortunately, multiple students have attempted to share with us their culture by opening clubs, organizing activities, etc. This year in particular, the blooming of multiple cultural and linguistic clubs have reinforced our school’s mission.
Advertisement
In October, four Chinese students came up with the initiative of founding a Chinese Club. Chinese is an imposed language course at EJM, an indecipherable language for most students. These four girls therefore opened up weekly sessions of Chinese Club, welcoming any students encountering trouble in Chinese or seeking oral practice. In extension, the Club will also organize certain activities throughout the year, especially in relation to traditional Chinese festivals. For instance, in honor of Chinese New Year, the club is hosting 2 workshop sessions during which students create collaborative art projects, such as a character dragon, paper cutting or calligraphy. This Club aims to boost the students’ interest and confidence in learning the language, while expanding their knowledge of Chinese culture.
Chinese club is not the only linguistic club present on campus. Our school has another club bearing significantly similar motivations and subjects - the Russian Club. This club opens their doors to students interested in learning the Russian language and deepening their understanding of Russian culture. Their small-scale sessions are taught by motivated students who are familiar with Russian as a mother tongue, and students are encouraged to attend on a regular basis. For anyone interested in digging deeper into Russian culture, this might just be the club for you.
Similarly, two Premiere students have founded the Kaiseki Club, a club centered on Japanese culture. This Club offers multiple activities in relation with Japanese practices and traditions, including exchanges with individuals interested in Japanese culture and hands-on practice diverging from the European culture surrounding us. This year, due to confinement limitations, their activities occur once every month, each time hosting different guests bearing ties with Japanese gastronomy. Whether that be through a zoom call during confinement, from a sushi master’s shop, or in a typical Japanese home, the objective of the club is to experience various activities in order to enrich knowledge about Japan.
The abundance of cultural diversity of EJM is significantly highlighted by the operation of these fascinating clubs, which, again, constitute only a few out of so many. Thanks to these clubs, cultures from all over the world are able to bloom at the heart of campus, allowing all students to learn about interesting cultures from the other side of the globe. Therefore, if you are interested in or come from a particular background, do not hesitate to start a project or a club about it, since this would give you the opportunity to not only share your interest with your peers but to truly live your interests in the heart of the precious cultural diversity that marks our school.
